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Misunderstandings among adults

Insights into beliefs about shingles

Can you predict what adults over 50 believe about shingles?

QUESTION 1

‘You can catch shingles from someone with shingles’. What percentage of adults aged ≥50 years do you think would agree with this statement?

Select 1 option to submit your response and find out the correct answer

CORRECT ANSWER

WRONG ANSWER

QUESTION 2

‘You can catch shingles from someone with chickenpox.’ What percentage of adults aged ≥50 years do you think would agree with this statement?

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CORRECT ANSWER

WRONG ANSWER

QUESTION 3

‘You can’t develop shingles if you’ve already had shingles.’ What percentage of adults aged ≥50 years do you think would agree with this statement?

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CORRECT ANSWER

WRONG ANSWER

Thank you for completing this quiz.

You can find more detail on the facts about shingles below

A global survey revealed widespread misunderstandings about shingles

Although shingles is common, affecting up to one in four people in their lifetime,2 a survey funded by GSK of 3500 adults aged ≥50 years from 12 different countries revealed some fundamental misunderstandings regarding important aspects of the disease, including how it is triggered.1,3

Misconception 1: ‘You can catch shingles from someone with shingles’

An icon of a person shaded in in red up to a point marked as 55%

55% of respondents agreed with this statement, but it is incorrect.

So, what is correct?

  • You cannot catch shingles from someone with shingles2,4
  • Shingles cannot be transmitted from person to person3
  • People who have never had chickenpox can catch chickenpox from individuals with shingles who have active lesions2
    • Individuals with shingles are contagious from rash onset until the lesions crust5
    • Shingles is one-fifth as infectious as chickenpox.5 Even so, the household transmission rate of shingles (to cause chickenpox) is 15%6
    • People with shingles should avoid contact with susceptible people at high risk for severe chickenpox in household and occupational settings until the lesions have crusted; such people include pregnant women, all premature infants born to susceptible mothers, infants born at <28 weeks’ gestation or who weigh ≤1000 g regardless of maternal immune status, and people of all ages who are immunocompromised7

Misconception 2: ‘You can catch shingles from someone with chickenpox’

An icon of a person shaded in in red up to a point marked as 50%

Almost 50% of respondents agreed with this statement, but it is incorrect.

So, what is correct?

  • There is no evidence that shingles can be acquired directly from someone who has chickenpox2

Misconception 3: ‘You can’t develop shingles if you’ve already had shingles’

An icon of a person shaded in in red up to a point marked as 39%

39% of respondents believed this to be true, but it is incorrect.

So, what is correct?

  • While the majority of patients who develop shingles will only experience one episode, it is possible to develop shingles more than once4
  • Up to 10% of patients with shingles may experience a recurrence8
  • Patients who are immunocompromised are more at risk than others of shingles recurrence9

The same global survey investigated where individuals aged ≥50 years turn to when they have questions about their health1,3

An icon showing different social media symbols surrounding an outline of a person

Over 40% regularly turn to social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram for health-related information

An icon of a magnifying glass over a web page to represent an internet search

Nearly one-third use internet search engines like Google at least once a week for health-related information, as opposed to reaching out to their doctors as often

References

  1. Pollfish on behalf of GSK. Global GSK shingles survey insights. https://www.pollfish.com/blog/global-gsk-shingles-survey-insights (accessed January 2024).
  2. UK Health Security Agency. Shingles: The Green Book, chapter 28a (July 2023). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c1153cd4051a000d5a9409/Shingles_Green_Book_on_Immunisation_Chapter_28a_26_7_23.pdf (accessed February 2024).
  3. GSK. Press release: New global survey finds widespread misunderstandings about shingles despite its lifetime prevalence. https://www.gsk.com/media/10719/misconceptions-survey-press-release.pdf (accessed February 2024).
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shingles (herpes zoster). https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html (accessed February 2024).
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zoster. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/herpes-zoster.html (accessed February 2024).
  6. Johnson RW et al. Herpes zoster epidemiology, management, and disease and economic burden in Europe: A multidisciplinary perspective. Ther Adv Vaccines 2015;3:109-120.
  7. Harpaz R et al. Prevention of herpes zoster: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2008;57:1-30: quiz CE2-4.
  8. Batram M et al. Burden of herpes zoster in adult patients with underlying conditions: Analysis of German claims data, 2007-2018. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2021;11:1009-1026.
  9. Yanni EA et al. Burden of herpes zoster in 16 selected immunocompromised populations in England: A cohort study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink 2000-2012. BMJ Open 2018;8:e020528.

Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. Adverse events should also be reported to GlaxoSmithKline on 0800 221 441.

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July 2024 | NP-GB-HZU-WCNT-240010 (V1.0)